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In this thesis, we present a generalized modeling tool for predicting the output force profile of vacuum-powered soft actuators using a simplified geometrical approach and the principle of virtual work. Previous work has ...

This thesis explores the challenge of teaching a machine how to perceive shape from surface contour markings. Such markings are commonly used in clothing, data visualizations, and other man-made constructs, because humans ...

Ensuring energy stability is an essential issue in achieving a sustainable society. Therefore, scientists continue research in pursuit of the ideal energy source, but that has not yet been achieved. Fusion energy has been ...

As supply chains expand globally and companies pursue speed, efficiency, and reduction in cost, the probability of disruptions propagating through the network grows. There are many documented threats to global supply chains: ...

Higher-order methods in computational fluid dynamics have the potential to provide accurate solutions at lower computational costs than traditional methods. Obtaining accurate flow solutions requires the use of computational ...

Detection of cancer-causing mutations within the vast and mostly unexplored human genome is a major challenge. Doing so requires modeling the background mutation rate, a highly non-stationary stochastic process, across ...

Biomimetics, nature inspiring technology, is the concept of imitating nature models for the purpose of solving complex problems [1]. Finding the right analogs from biology to technology, transferring, and applying them ...

Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) are potentially vulnerable to accidents, which can either be internally or externally initiated. External events include natural events like tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. The purpose ...